Road safety record of the year 2011 - Improved for the fifth consecutive year
Transport Minister and member for Chateauguay, Pierre Moreau, today unveiled the road safety record of the year 2011, which demonstrated that the number of victims killed in a road accident is down for the fifth consecutive year . Although we always deplore too many victims of road accidents, the number of deaths occurring in 2011 is 479. This is a decrease of 0.4% compared to 2010 and 17.4 % over the average of the previous five years.
The most significant improvement for the number of serious injured. Although of 2036, this number represents a decrease of 11.9% compared to 2010 and 24.6% compared to the average of the previous five years.
The number of wounded lightweight also decreases; it is 39,388 in 2011. This represents a decrease of 4.1% compared to 2010 and 7.8% compared to the average of the previous five years.
Fewer deaths among young
One of the most encouraging notes 2011 road toll is the lower number of deaths among young people aged 15 to 24 years. With 99 fatalities for this age group, 22.0% less than in 2010, there is a decrease of 31.3% over the average of the previous five years. "Despite everything, the situation remains worrying, since this number represents 1 death 5. If the actions of recent years conducted with youth seem to bear fruit, it is important to continue on this path," stated Mr. Moreau.
Continue efforts
Overall, the safety record is improving gradually. Although these results are the product of several combined actions and concerted efforts from both the government and its partners, awareness, legislation, in control, infrastructure and security of vehicles. They are mostly a reflection of increased accountability of the entire population.
The Minister recalled that during the last few years, the Code of road safety has been strengthened to ensure better safety on the roads. There was more severe penalties for drunk driving, increased fines for speeding large, the ban on cell phones while driving, the installation of speed cameras, the return of mandatory driving courses and more recently, the rule of zero drunk driving for 21 years or less.
"In the Company of Auto Insurance Quebec, the road toll is and always will be a major challenge, said President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Ms. Nathalie Tremblay. We give the ambitious target of reducing by 20% the number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads over the next five years. To get there, we will continue our efforts and collaboration with all our partners in road safety. "
"A dead or injured will always be a victim too, has says Moreau. The accidents are often obviously the source of deep and lasting human dramas. They also represent a significant economic cost to the victims or their families and for the whole society. So many reasons to continue our efforts relentlessly, both individual and collective, "the Minister concluded.
